The group will also have shared occupancy of the adjacent Multi Arts Hall.
The peppercorn lease agreement with Edward River Council will begin in October and be for a period of up to one year.
Further negotiations for long term utilisation is to then be considered by the next council following elections in September.
The agreement comes as the ERAS’s Riverbend Gallery pilot project - which has seen the establishment of an art gallery in Hardinge St, Deniliquin - comes to an end.
ERAS president Louise Graham said the pilot has been a resounding success, but members required more space for their projects and workshops than the Hardinge St building allowed.
ERAS already uses the Muti Arts Hall each Easter to deliver the popular Deniliquin Easter Art Show in partnership with the Rotary Club of Deniliquin.
Mrs Graham said the added bonus of having a permanent gallery there would be the increased utilisation of one of Deniliquin’s historic buildings.
“For us it is about creating an arts precinct in town, connecting to other arts spaces like the Peppin Heritage Centre, and it’s all very exciting,” she said.
“Our gallery pilot project has been a success in that it has raised the profile of ERAS, allowing us to double our membership and partner with other groups to run exhibitions.
“Being in the Multi Arts Centre would make us much more visible to locals and tourists, and would provide more arts for the community.
“Our plan is to use the old church (Multi Arts Centre) as a gallery, and share the Sunday school (Multi Arts Hall) for our meetings and workshops.
“Our Hardinge St gallery is open Wednesdays to Sundays, and we would envisage having the same hours in the new space.”
Edward River Mayor Peta Betts expressed council’s enthusiasm for fostering artistic endeavours within the community
“Edward River Art Society’s commitment to promoting the arts aligns strongly with council’s vision for a vibrant and inclusive Edward River region, and it would be great to see them with a permanent home for the fantastic creative works they facilitate,” Cr Betts said.
With local government elections pending, the Multi Arts Centre and the Sunday school are currently under contract to the NSW Electoral Commission until October 18.
ERAS will be granted access at the completion of that lease.
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